Stern, Andrew M; Van Pelt, Kathryn L; Liu, Lei; Anderson, Amirah K; Ostaszewski, Beth; Mapstone, Mark; O'Bryant, Sid; Petersen, Melissa E; Christian, Bradley T; Handen, Benjamin L; Selkoe, Dennis J; Schmitt, Frederick; Head, Elizabeth; investigators, the Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium–Down Syndrome

doi:10.1002/alz.13382

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Plasma NT1‐tau and Aβ42 correlate with age and cognitive function in two large Down syndrome cohorts

2023

Published Web Location

https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13382

Abstract

Introduction

People with Down syndrome (DS) often develop Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we asked whether ultrasensitive plasma immunoassays for a tau N-terminal fragment (NT1-tau) and Aβ isoforms predict cognitive impairment.

Methods

Plasma NT1-tau, Aβ₃₇ , Aβ₄₀ , and Aβ₄₂ levels were measured in a longitudinal discovery cohort (N = 85 participants, 220 samples) and a cross-sectional validation cohort (N = 239). We developed linear models and predicted values in the validation cohort.

Results

Discovery cohort linear mixed models for NT1-tau, Aβ₄₂ , and Aβ_37:42 were significant for age; there was no main effect of time. In cross-sectional models, NT1-tau increased and Aβ₄₂ decreased with age. NT1-tau predicted cognitive and functional scores. The discovery cohort linear model for NT1-tau predicted levels in the validation cohort.

Discussion

NT1-tau correlates with age and worse cognition in DS. Further validation of NT1-tau and other plasma biomarkers of AD neuropathology in DS cohorts is important for clinical utility.

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